(l-r) Rick Raven, Rob Hornak, Justin Born, City Council Speaker Quinn, John Linder, Melissa Sklarz, Mark Robertson
Last night, HRC’s Greater NY Steering Committee met for our monthly forum, Talking Queer Politics (TQP). Just over 70 New Yorkers showed up in midtown Manhattan to hear from City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. Speaker Quinn is an out lesbian and has served as Speaker of the Council since 2006. In the past month alone she held three hearing and passed two resolutions at City Hall pertaining to the LGBT community. Even in hard economic times, she has fought hard to restore–and even increase–funding to LGBT and HIV/AIDS Groups. In the last week when an unfortunate hate crime occurred against members of our community she was the first to respond to reports that NYPD did not adequately respond to a hate crime. Speaker Quinn has demanded an investigation and within hours the victims were visited by NYPD detectives and an investigation is now underway.
Speaker Quinn started by thanking one of the victims for not only reporting the crime, but not being afraid to stand up to NYPD and let them know the our community’s voice will not be silenced. With all that is going on in our community in NY and across America she had one simple message: Stand up and be counted. When she spoke about the March on Washington she made it known how important it is to show up to the march and be counted. When awful things happen like the hate crime in Hells Kitchen, you have to stand up and be counted.
It was one of the largest groups we have had at TQP, and several people signed up to get involved with HRC’s efforts in New York’s marriage battle, in our efforts to help re-elect Governor Jon Corzine and other fair-minded leaders in New Jersey, and in our effort to win in Maine on Tuesday Nov. 3. If you want to hear more about how to get involved please email Regional Field Organizer Anthony Hayes: Anthony.Hayes@HRC.org.
Speaker Quinn’s message was clear–stand up and be counted–so New York we need your help. Email me today.
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The Human Rights Campaign's perspective on the news, issues and events affecting the every day lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across the country.
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